I am Crazy Horse
I am the wind
Air skimming the land
Breath of the five directions
I am the ghost direction
The spirit running through the grasses
Whispering to our singing Earth
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
I am a moving shadow
Scenting the buffalo
Across the singing plains
Catch my echo as it passes
It will not come this way again
I am the murmuring of the world
I am Crazy Horse
I am a moving shadow
Scenting the buffalo
Across the singing plains
Catch my echo as it passes
It will not come this way again
I am the murmuring of the world
Hoye !
I came fair-skinned, light-haired
The people whispered "Wasichu!"
I felt a shiver at the very name
The breath of strangers on my face
"Curly"was my boyhood name
"Strange Man" I was later
Then, last, Crazy Horse, my people's warrior.
I came fair-skinned, light-haired
The people whispered "Wasichu!"
I felt a shiver at the very name
The breath of strangers on my face
"Curly"was my boyhood name
"Strange Man" I was later
Then, last, Crazy Horse, my people's warrior.
Hoye !
I asked my grandmother
She said my mother was good Oglala
That was not my question
I was six years old and I knew my question
I asked my grandmother
She said my mother was good Oglala
That was not my question
I was six years old and I knew my question
Later my woman Black Buffalo
The one I broke the hoop to know
Said her aunt knew my mother
There was a time she went out under the skies
The one I broke the hoop to know
Said her aunt knew my mother
There was a time she went out under the skies
Hoye !
Said she sought plants for the heart's ease
There was other medicine at work
Said she sought plants for the heart's ease
There was other medicine at work
A white man found her in the hills
A man without people
Poured his longing into her
Took her, abandoned her -
That aunt was a heavy-tongued woman
Poured his longing into her
Took her, abandoned her -
That aunt was a heavy-tongued woman
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
My father gave me everything
My seat on a pony
My gaze, my speed of hand
He gave me his name, the words to live a life -
I am Crazy Horse
My father gave me everything
My seat on a pony
My gaze, my speed of hand
He gave me his name, the words to live a life -
Only now, when I sleep out here on the plain
I know his sadness, that he would outlive me.
I know his sadness, that he would outlive me.
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
Among the Oglala I grew swift and strong
I am Crazy Horse
Among the Oglala I grew swift and strong
Learned to ride and hunt
The ways of horse and buffalo
Found my secret animal
Learned to be invisible
Learned to stay my fear
Hoye !
A child, I studied pictures in the fire
Be patient said my father
Fire is change learn to see beyond the flames
The ways of horse and buffalo
Found my secret animal
Learned to be invisible
Learned to stay my fear
Hoye !
A child, I studied pictures in the fire
Be patient said my father
Fire is change learn to see beyond the flames
Flames are children of the sun.
He spoke for us
Not for the men who fire the earth
To shape it into thunderbolts of death.
Hoye !
I dreamed of riding against Shoshoni
Dreamed of raids against the Crow
They were our worthy enemies
Worthy as our friends, Cheyenne.
We watched for silent creeping thieves, Pawnee.
He spoke for us
Not for the men who fire the earth
To shape it into thunderbolts of death.
Hoye !
I dreamed of riding against Shoshoni
Dreamed of raids against the Crow
They were our worthy enemies
Worthy as our friends, Cheyenne.
We watched for silent creeping thieves, Pawnee.
I did not dream of Wasichu
They massed like locusts to the east
They massed like locusts to the east
Hoye !
I lay in a wallow questing the sun
I was the breath rising from the buffalo T
I lay in a wallow questing the sun
I was the breath rising from the buffalo T
he mist of life hanging in the air
I was the rumble of their thunder
I caught it in my fallen cup
I drank it from the pregnant ground
I heard it far across the plains
Hoye !
My father took me hunting
We crept among the beasts
Stalked and aimed to wound
My father did not pierce the heart
This day we were to run one down
We left the ponies, stood tall in the grasses
I was the rumble of their thunder
I caught it in my fallen cup
I drank it from the pregnant ground
I heard it far across the plains
Hoye !
My father took me hunting
We crept among the beasts
Stalked and aimed to wound
My father did not pierce the heart
This day we were to run one down
We left the ponies, stood tall in the grasses
We were men of old that day
Hoye !
When darkness fell we were far beyond the river
Hoye !
When darkness fell we were far beyond the river
My father cut the liver for me
Today he said was a good day to die
There would never be a better day
Today we were men
Today he said was a good day to die
There would never be a better day
Today we were men
Today we were hunters
We lived in the spirit
Hoye !
When the buffalo moved across the world
When the buffalo moved across the world
They followed the grass, the rise of the seasons
And we moved with them.
Now their bones litter the land
Snow covers their sightless eyes
I hear the herds of years gone by
Their thunder when our ancestors were young
Now their bones litter the land
Snow covers their sightless eyes
I hear the herds of years gone by
Their thunder when our ancestors were young
Hoye !
One man was my hero, a quiet man straight and true
One man was my hero, a quiet man straight and true
One was the medicine man who looked at me
And spoke my twisted fate
Said I would lead my people
And only they could kill me -
That drove me arrow-straight in battle,
And spoke my twisted fate
Said I would lead my people
And only they could kill me -
That drove me arrow-straight in battle,
Left me haunted at night.
Hoye !
At night I spin the bowl of stars
Campfires of the ancestors
Cloud treaders
Crossing the blue plains
Walking into fathomless black lands
Deep the streams of darkness
Sweeping by their feeble sons and daughters
Hoye !
At night I spin the bowl of stars
Campfires of the ancestors
Cloud treaders
Crossing the blue plains
Walking into fathomless black lands
Deep the streams of darkness
Sweeping by their feeble sons and daughters
Hoye !
I am a wanderer alone
I am what cannot be dreamed,
My spirit animal is not to be told
I am a wanderer alone
I am what cannot be dreamed,
My spirit animal is not to be told
My path cannot be followed
Leaves no trace, no wound
My way is the way of paw and hoof
Leaves no trace, no wound
My way is the way of paw and hoof
Padding soft through time
Hoye !
From my patient watching grandfathers
Hoye !
From my patient watching grandfathers
I have learned the stillness
To lie in wait and pause
I have sat facing the canyon wall
Let the snake unwind over me
Watched the war ants march across my arm -
To lie in wait and pause
I have sat facing the canyon wall
Let the snake unwind over me
Watched the war ants march across my arm -
I became their path, their destiny
Hoye !
I have lain with the eagle-catcher
On my back in the pit
Stayed from darkness through the dawn
Hoye !
I have lain with the eagle-catcher
On my back in the pit
Stayed from darkness through the dawn
Breathing shallow, still, silent
Eyes closed to blank their shine
Eyes closed to blank their shine
I have heard the sweep of wings
The terror of the swooping talons
The terror of the swooping talons
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
I do not do the sun dance
I do not speak in council
I do not beat the people's drum
My dance is a leap across the river
My drum is the world beneath my pony's hooves
I am Crazy Horse
I do not do the sun dance
I do not speak in council
I do not beat the people's drum
My dance is a leap across the river
My drum is the world beneath my pony's hooves
My song is the flighting arrow
Hoye !
I have learned to fight the white man's war
Hoye !
I have learned to fight the white man's war
To count not coup, but death itself.
Their guns reach ever further
Make giants of small men
I fly the wind with a single feather
Their guns reach ever further
Make giants of small men
I fly the wind with a single feather
Their bones lie now with the buffalo
The grass grows in the wagon tracks
Hoye !
I came to the caverns of silence
I came to the caverns of silence
The quiet of trickling water
The deep rocks of star riding
For the wanderer in darkness
If they ask why these hills why here
If they ask why these hills why here
There is land enough for all
This is the cause I cannot speak
This is the cause I cannot speak
Hoye !
I cannot speak the secrets of this earth
To men who seek the gold, the scattering of stars
They do not know the beating out of time
The slowing pulse flowing beneath
The crystal exhalations of the night
Their heads are full of plodding numbers
Their fingers count the stubborn minutes and the stumbling hours
I cannot speak the secrets of this earth
To men who seek the gold, the scattering of stars
They do not know the beating out of time
The slowing pulse flowing beneath
The crystal exhalations of the night
Their heads are full of plodding numbers
Their fingers count the stubborn minutes and the stumbling hours
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse, I am not a number
I am one, beyond counting
One a fragment of the wind
One the gleam in the eye of the buffalo
I am Crazy Horse, I am not a number
I am one, beyond counting
One a fragment of the wind
One the gleam in the eye of the buffalo
One the glinting of the dawn
One the sun riding the sky
I am the wholeness of the world
One the sun riding the sky
I am the wholeness of the world
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
I have learned to probe the lies
Of easy smiles and promises
I am Crazy Horse
I have learned to probe the lies
Of easy smiles and promises
Words distorting futures
I trust the stories of the past
I trust the stories of the past
Memories worn smooth like stones
Bubbling the water on the fire
Hoye !
My woman was Black Buffalo Woman
My woman was Black Buffalo Woman
We stood outside the tipi under the robe
She was given to another
Called me from the plains
I heard her in the hills
My picture sleeping in the rock
Called me from the plains
I heard her in the hills
My picture sleeping in the rock
For her to conjure in the air
Hoye !
I found her and asked her
Is this the journey of your life ?
Can you not change your path ?
Her eyes wavered she looked past me
Then searched my gaze and saw me utterly.
I found her and asked her
Is this the journey of your life ?
Can you not change your path ?
Her eyes wavered she looked past me
Then searched my gaze and saw me utterly.
She walked away with me
Took nothing, as I found her
Hoye !
He came after us
Came and shot me
Fired his gun into my face
Took nothing, as I found her
Hoye !
He came after us
Came and shot me
Fired his gun into my face
Left me for dead
Tore his claws across me
Left my heart beating still
Could not cut the bond between us
Tore his claws across me
Left my heart beating still
Could not cut the bond between us
Hoye !
I arrived back to the circle
Her mother cat outside
I looked for someone to speak with her
Two boys were passing
“Tell him the child is born !” she said
“Tell him she is well.”
”I have heard the empty wind of someone speaking.” I said
I arrived back to the circle
Her mother cat outside
I looked for someone to speak with her
Two boys were passing
“Tell him the child is born !” she said
“Tell him she is well.”
”I have heard the empty wind of someone speaking.” I said
Hoye !
Inside she held the child and looked me in the eyes
Inside she held the child and looked me in the eyes
“Your daughter” was all she said.
Outside her mother was speaking
Loud for all to hear
She worked a deer skin
Outside her mother was speaking
Loud for all to hear
She worked a deer skin
Flashed a glance at me
And boasted till the light failed
And boasted till the light failed
Hoye !
Inside I held that tiny hand
That would hold a pony's mane
Inside I held that tiny hand
That would hold a pony's mane
That would grasp a bow
That would sew the beads
That would raise the poles
That would light the fire
That would light the fires within
That would sew the beads
That would raise the poles
That would light the fire
That would light the fires within
Hoye !
When I saw that hand
When it held my finger
I felt the squeeze of firm life
When I saw that hand
When it held my finger
I felt the squeeze of firm life
Saw the end of all my battles
The power of my people
Breath of all my ancestors
Filling my lungs
Hoye !
I left her in the tipi
Walked from the circle of the people
Hoye !
I left her in the tipi
Walked from the circle of the people
Rode up from the valleys
Into the winds of the world
I looked up, asked my grandfathers
My grandmothers in the circle of the sky
Into the winds of the world
I looked up, asked my grandfathers
My grandmothers in the circle of the sky
How long would we stay down here
How long, Grandfathers, do you know ?
Hoye !
It was a strange thing to see
Wasichus craving for gold
Drops of sunsweat fallen to the earth
They died for a quill full of grains
I have seen them mad in the hills of home
It was a strange thing to see
Wasichus craving for gold
Drops of sunsweat fallen to the earth
They died for a quill full of grains
I have seen them mad in the hills of home
Digging and washing the earth
Sifting the fire dust, hoards of ancient light.
Sifting the fire dust, hoards of ancient light.
Hoye !
I went to see the winter count
It told the summer's glory,
The victory against the Crows,
Three good men lost, remembered.
I went to see the winter count
It told the summer's glory,
The victory against the Crows,
Three good men lost, remembered.
“Where are the Wasichus?” I asked
It was the year they swarmed on the land.
It was the year they swarmed on the land.
”Not worthy of record” he said with scorn.
Hoye !
Once I saw a storm of circling winds
Pass through a line of wagons
Limping up that rutted road
Scattered the wagon goods the people and the cattle
Once I saw a storm of circling winds
Pass through a line of wagons
Limping up that rutted road
Scattered the wagon goods the people and the cattle
Gained the heights and sang their song of victory
That day those people met a greater thunder
A greater anger sweeping them away
A greater anger sweeping them away
Hoye !
I became the storm from nowhere
My name was heard in countless dreams
I became the storm from nowhere
My name was heard in countless dreams
Before I died I lived a story
Placed the truth in empty hands
Hope was riding on my shoulder
We were brothers we endured
Placed the truth in empty hands
Hope was riding on my shoulder
We were brothers we endured
Nothing dies in such a tale
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
When my land was taken
I feel it like a severed limb
I am Crazy Horse
When my land was taken
I feel it like a severed limb
It is there and not there
My people's names echoing
My people's names echoing
Haunting the hillsides
Calling us to save them
Hoye !
I cannot bear to look on the sick white-woman face
The red and white faces of men who lie
There is no understanding these pay-money white people
I cannot bear to look on the sick white-woman face
The red and white faces of men who lie
There is no understanding these pay-money white people
Or the Lakotas either
After they lived among them
I am Crazy Horse
I do not sleep by the white man's fort
After they lived among them
I am Crazy Horse
I do not sleep by the white man's fort
Hoye !
Father said there is a difference
Between us and them
Father said there is a difference
Between us and them
That tells you everything
We belong to this land
They think that it belongs to them
That is the darkness of their ways
The world is too heavy a load
Hoye !
And yet I will withstand my anger
They think that it belongs to them
That is the darkness of their ways
The world is too heavy a load
Hoye !
And yet I will withstand my anger
I will honour empty promises
Take vain giving
See blood spilled
The very air made foul
I, Crazy Horse, called a savage
I will live and be patient in the world
See blood spilled
The very air made foul
I, Crazy Horse, called a savage
I will live and be patient in the world
Hoye !
In our lands time flowed quiet like water
In our lands time flowed quiet like water
A gentle stream bore us
Carried us in tender arms
Cast us on a friendly bank.
Now time comes in lightning strikes
Carried us in tender arms
Cast us on a friendly bank.
Now time comes in lightning strikes
Singeing the ground beneath our feet
Hurling us helpless to the dust
Hoye !
I know there is an end to these fair plains
That the grasses reach an ocean of trees
That ends with the ocean of water flowing to the sky -
Hoye !
I know there is an end to these fair plains
That the grasses reach an ocean of trees
That ends with the ocean of water flowing to the sky -
We came from the East to find our destiny
Star-bowled hoop of pride and plenty
Horse and buffalo, land of richness
Sustained us tall and happy people
Hoye !
Now I ride to the white man's fort
Horse and buffalo, land of richness
Sustained us tall and happy people
Hoye !
Now I ride to the white man's fort
I will fight no more
My people starve
The beasts are gone
I shall use the word surrender
A white man's word
A little death in a foreign tongue
My people starve
The beasts are gone
I shall use the word surrender
A white man's word
A little death in a foreign tongue
Hoye !
I am Crazy horse
I can look tomorrow in the eye
I shall not flinch from destiny
I shall tread the stony path
I shall go under the gun
I shall walk the way of the wagon
I am Crazy horse
I can look tomorrow in the eye
I shall not flinch from destiny
I shall tread the stony path
I shall go under the gun
I shall walk the way of the wagon
I shall come to the door with bars
And never pass through
Hoye !
I shall ride into the mountain
My pony's hooves echo under the hill
Hoye !
I shall ride into the mountain
My pony's hooves echo under the hill
Will I warm the grass roots
With my war breath, my cry ?
Will I feel the cool air rise from the cleft
With my war breath, my cry ?
Will I feel the cool air rise from the cleft
The breath of caverns in the earth
I dream in with my flickering fire ?
I dream in with my flickering fire ?
Hoye !
I am Crazy Horse
It was not enough to be the bravest
To be swifter than the wind
To know Coyote sleeps south of the skyline
I am Crazy Horse
It was not enough to be the bravest
To be swifter than the wind
To know Coyote sleeps south of the skyline
Not enough to climb the rocks to see the future
It was the small hand of a girl child
Binding itself around my finger
Hoye !
I am Crazy horse
I have heard the grasses part
The soft fall of the panther's paw
I have heard the fanning of the grouse
I have heard the murmur of the streams deep underground
Binding itself around my finger
Hoye !
I am Crazy horse
I have heard the grasses part
The soft fall of the panther's paw
I have heard the fanning of the grouse
I have heard the murmur of the streams deep underground
Flowing through the caverns of the past
Down to the ocean round the world
Hoye !
In the hills
Smoke rises
Winding threads into the sky
Down to the ocean round the world
Hoye !
In the hills
Smoke rises
Winding threads into the sky
Threads from pipes also rise
Passed from hand to peaceful hand
To weave the people's bonds.
Can they sew our hearts together ?
Can they sew our hearts together ?
Hoye !
My rest is silence.
Yet I will still be thunder and lightning
My rest is silence.
Yet I will still be thunder and lightning
Striking from the looming sky.
